Garbage bin with air cleaner

ABSTRACT

A garbage storage apparatus includes a bin, a cover and an air cleaner. The bin defines a space for storing garbage. The cover is for covering the bin. The air cleaner is communicated with the bin for cleaning air in the bin. The air cleaner may include a catalyst for processing the air. The catalyst may be an optical catalyst that is activated by means of light.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a garbage bin capable ofcleaning air.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 483430 discloses a conventionalgarbage storage apparatus for storing two sorts of garbage. Thisconventional garbage storage apparatus includes a bin 1 and a holder 2for holding two bags 3 in the bin 1. The bin 1 includes an upper edge 12defining an opening. The holder 2 includes a lever 21 and two frames 22.The lever 21 is mounted on an upper edge 12 so as to divide the openingdefined in the upper edge 12 into two sub-openings. Each of the bags 3is put in the bin 1 through one of the sub-openings. Each of the frames22 is put in an upper edge of one of the bags 3 and then mounted on theupper edge of the bin 1 and the lever 21. Thus, each of the bags 3 isretained open for taking a sort of garbage. In use, one of the bags 3may store kitchen waste and the other one of the bags 3 other garbage,for example. However, the kitchen waste tends to stink soon after it isput in one of the bags 3.

[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or atleast alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide agarbage storage apparatus for eliminating odor.

[0007] According to the present invention, a garbage storage apparatusincludes a bin, a cover and an air cleaner. The bin defines a space forstoring garbage. The cover is for covering the bin. The air cleaner iscommunicated with the bin for cleaning air in the bin.

[0008] The air cleaner may include a catalyst for processing the air.

[0009] The catalyst may be an optical catalyst that is activated bymeans of light.

[0010] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be described through detailedillustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a garbage storage apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air cleaner used in the garbagestorage apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the air cleaner shown in FIG. 2.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the garbage storage apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the garbagestorage apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in operation.

[0017]FIG. 6˜11 show second to seventh embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1˜5, according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention, a garbage storage apparatus 100 includes a bin 2, acover 3 pivotally mounted on the bin 2 and an air cleaner 1 communicatedwith the bin 2.

[0019] The bin 2 defines a space 4 for receiving garbage. In the firstembodiment, an internal bin 5 is installed in the space 4. Garbage is tobe stored in the internal bin 5. However, the internal bin 5 is optionaland can be saved.

[0020] The air cleaner 1 includes a support 10, a first fan 20 mountedon the support 10, a second fan 30 mounted on the support 10, a lightsource 40, an optical catalyst 50 and a power supply 60.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the support 10 a disc with an upper face 11for supporting the first fan 20, the second fan 30, the light source 40,the optical catalyst 50 and the power supply 60 and an edge 12 forengagement with an edge of the cover 3. The support 10 defines a firstgroup of slots 13 and a second group of slots 14.

[0022] The first fan 20 is secured to the support 10 by means of screws(not numbered). The first fan 20 is located over the first group ofslots 13. The first fan 20 can drive air to flow through the first groupof slots 13.

[0023] The second fan 30 is mounted on the support 10 by means of screws(not numbered). The second fan 30 is located over the second group ofslots 14. The second fan 30 can drive air to flow through the secondgroup of slots 14.

[0024] A pedal 71 is mounted on the bin 2. The pedal 71 is connectedwith the cover 30 through a linkage (not shown for being conventional).Thus, the cover 30 can be lifted via treading the pedal 71.

[0025] The light source 40 is an ultraviolet light source. The lightsource 40 is located between the first fan 20 and the second fan 30.

[0026] The optical catalyst 50 is secured to ‘the ’ support 10 by meansof screws (not numbered). The optical catalyst 50 is located over thelight source 40. Moreover, the optical catalyst 50 is located betweenthe first fan 20 and the second fan 30. The optical catalyst 50 includesa plurality of screens 51 held over one another by means of two brackets53, thus defining a passageway 52 between any two adjacent ones thereof.Each of the screens 51 is coated with an optical catalytic coating oftitania. When receiving light from the light source 40, the opticalcatalytic coatings on the screens 51 act to clean air flowing throughthe passageways 52.

[0027] The power supply 60 includes a box 61 secured to the support 10by means of screws (not numbered), batteries 62 put in the box 61 forproviding DC to the first fan 20, the second fan 30 and the light source40 and a switch 63 mounted on the box 61 and electrically connected withthe batteries 62.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, food waste is stored in the bin 2, and thebin 2 is closed by means of the cover 3. The air cleaner 1 is activated.The first fan 20 draws air from a space defined in the internal bin 5into a space defined between the cover 3 and the support 10. The secondfan 30 draws air from the space defined between the cover 3 and thesupport 10 into the space defined in the internal bin 5. Thus, an aircurrent blows from the first fan 20 to the second fan 3 through theoptical catalyst 50. Thus, when flowing through the optical catalyst 50,air mixed with odor coming from the food waste is cleaned by means ofthe optical catalyst 50. Therefore, when the cover 3 is lifted, nostinky smell bursts from the bin 2.

[0029]FIG. 6 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in using an AC power supply 60′ instead of the DCpower supply 60. The AC power supply 60′ includes a box 61, a switch 63installed on the box 61, a circuit board 64 installed in the box 61, awire 65 leading from the circuit board 64 and a plug 66 formed at an endof the wire 65.

[0030]FIG. 7 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in two aspects. Firstly, the light source 40 issaved. To activate the optical catalyst 50, a window 41 is installed onthe cover 3 so that light can shine on the optical catalyst 50 throughthe window 41. Secondly, the second fan 30 is saved.

[0031]FIG. 8 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in two aspects. Firstly, the cover 3 is notpivotally mounted on the bin 2 but simply put on the bin 2. Tofacilitate lifting of the cover 3, the cover 3 is provided with a handle32. Secondly, the internal bin 5 is saved.

[0032]FIG. 9 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in two aspects. Firstly, the air cleaner 1 includesa support 10′ instead of the support 10. The support 10′ is a box inwhich element are installed. The support 10′ includes a connector (notnumbered) in the form of a rail for a train. The connector includes arib (not numbered) formed on the support 10′ and two flanges 15extending from two sides of the rib. The flanges 15: are for slidingengagement with two rails 34 formed on a lower face of the cover 3.Thus, the support 10′ is attached to the cover 3 in a releasable manner.Secondly, the air cleaner 1 includes only one fan 30.

[0033]FIG. 10 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is similar tothe fifth embodiment except for two rails 21 are formed on the bin 2instead of the rails 34 and 35 formed on the cover 3. The bin 2 definesan aperture 26 corresponding to the first group of slots 13 and anaperture 27 corresponding to the second group of slots 14.

[0034]FIG. 11 shows a garbage storage apparatus according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is similarto the fifth embodiment except for that the rails 34 are formed on anupper face of the cover 3. The cover 3 defines an aperture 36corresponding to the first group of slots 13 and an aperture 37corresponding to the second group of slots 14.

[0035] The present invention has been described through detailedillustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art canderive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodimentshall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garbage storage apparatus including: a bindefining a space for storing garbage; a cover for covering the bin; andan air cleaner communicated with the bin for cleaning air in the bin. 2.The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the aircleaner includes a catalyst for processing the air.
 3. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the catalyst is anoptical catalyst that is activated by means of light.
 4. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the catalyst includes aplurality of screens located over one another, thus defining apassageway between any two adjacent ones thereof.
 5. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the screens is coatedwith an optical catalytic coating.
 6. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 5 wherein the optical catalytic coating is titania.7. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 3 including a lightsource for emitting light to the optical catalyst.
 8. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the light source is anultraviolet light source.
 9. The garbage storage apparatus according toclaim 7 including a power supply for powering the light source.
 10. Thegarbage storage apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the power supplyis a DC power supply.
 11. The garbage storage apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein the power supply is an AC power supply.
 12. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cover is pivotallymounted on the bin.
 13. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim1 wherein the cover is put on the bin.
 14. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 13 wherein the cover includes a handle formedthereon.
 15. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 1including an internal bin installed in the bin for receiving garbage.16. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the aircleaner is attached to the bin.
 17. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 16 wherein the air cleaner is attached to the bin ina sliding manner.
 18. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim17 wherein the air cleaner includes two flanges formed thereon, and thebin includes two rails formed thereon for engagement with the flanges ofthe air cleaner.
 19. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 18wherein the air cleaner is attached to an external face of the bin. 20.The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the aircleaner includes at least one first aperture and at least one secondaperture, and the cover defines a first aperture communicated with thefirst aperture of the air cleaner and an aperture communicated with thesecond aperture of the air cleaner.
 21. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the air cleaner is attached to the cover.22. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the aircleaner is attached to the cover in a sliding manner.
 23. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the air cleaner includestwo flanges formed thereon, and the cover includes two rails formed on alower face thereof for engagement with the flanges of the air cleaner.24. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the aircleaner includes two flanges formed thereon, and the cover includes tworails formed on an upper face thereof for engagement with the flanges ofthe air cleaner.
 25. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 22wherein the air cleaner includes at least one first aperture and atleast one second aperture, and the cover defines a first aperturecommunicated with the first aperture of the air cleaner and an aperturecommunicated with the second aperture of the air cleaner.
 26. Thegarbage storage apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the air cleanerincludes a catalyst for processing the air.
 27. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 26 wherein the catalyst is an opticalcatalyst that is activated by means of light.
 28. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 27 wherein the catalyst includes aplurality of screens located over one another, thus defining apassageway between any two adjacent ones thereof.
 29. The garbagestorage apparatus according to claim 28 wherein each of the screens iscoated with an optical catalytic coating.
 30. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 29 wherein the optical catalytic coating istitania.
 31. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 27including a light source for emitting light to the optical catalyst. 32.The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the lightsource is an ultraviolet light source.
 33. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 21 wherein the air cleaner includes: a disc attachedto the cover so as to define a space between them, the disc defining atleast one first aperture and at least one second aperture; and at leastone fan mounted on the disc in order to drive air from the space 4 inthe bin to the space between the cover and the disc through the firstaperture and from the space between the cover and the disc to the space4 in the bin through the second aperture.
 34. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 33 wherein the air cleaner includes acatalyst for processing the air.
 35. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 34 wherein the catalyst is an optical catalyst thatis activated by means of light.
 36. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 35 wherein the catalyst includes a plurality ofscreens located over one another, thus defining a passageway between anytwo adjacent ones thereof.
 37. The garbage storage apparatus accordingto claim 36 wherein the screens are coated with an optical catalyticcoating.
 38. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 37 whereinthe optical catalytic coating is titania.
 39. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 35 including a light source for emittinglight to the optical catalyst.
 40. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 39 wherein the light source is an ultraviolet lightsource.
 41. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 33 whereinthe fan is located over the first aperture.
 42. The garbage storageapparatus according to claim 33 wherein the fan is located over thesecond aperture.
 43. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 33including a first fan located over the first aperture and a second fanlocated over the second aperture.
 44. The garbage storage apparatusaccording to claim 33 wherein the air cleaner is installed in the cover.45. The garbage storage apparatus according to claim 44 wherein thecover includes a window through which light shines on the opticalcatalyst.